Method of loading cases



Feb. 20, 1968 J. SPEISER 3,369,339

METHOD OF LOADING CASES Filed April 15, 1965 20 FIG. 1.

"Unit States Patent Office 3,369,339 Patented F eb. 20, 1968 3,369,339 METHUD F LQADING CASES .loerg Speiser, Djakarta, Indonesia, assignor to Lever Brothers Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maine Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,624 3 Claims. (Cl. 53-35) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of loading several batches of articles into a packing case comprising forming the batches of articles into a train with adjacent batches in contact with each other, feeding the train forward intermittently toward the delivery end of a stationary support surface in feed increments equal to the length of one batch and temporarily supporting at least the first batch in the train on a movable auxiliary support surface that is then in a position in which it constitutes an extension of the stationary surface beyond the delivery end. The open end of a packing case is presented to the leading end of the train with the case aligned to receive the batches, the movable temporary support surface is retracted away from the stationary surface a distance equal to the length of at least one batch at the same time as the next forward feed increment of the train, and the packing case is moved conjointly with the temporary surface away from the stationary surface. Next, the movable surface and the packing case are moved conjointly back into the extension position adjacent the stationary surface, and thereafter the packing case is removed.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for filling a box, crate, packing case or the like, with batches of articles from an oncoming train of batches, said train comprising at least two batches. Each batch may comprise one or more stacks of articles, each of which stacks may comprise one or more articles or layers of articles. The train is intermittently moved forward over a stationary support by increments of movement each equal to the length of one batch measured in the direction of movement of the train.

In a conventional case packer the articles for loading are intermittently delivered as a train of batches, each batch comprising a stack of said articles. These batches can be loaded into a suitable box, container or packing case by presenting this case at the delivery end of the stationary support over which the stacks are moved, usually in horizontal direction. According to its volume the case is filled after a number of subsequent batches of said articles have been moved into it, after which the loaded case can be removed from the support and transported away, while an empty case has to be presented at the delivery end of the support for loading.

Since these case packers work at high speeds, the time available between delivery of a final batch which completes the loading of a case and the subsequent delivery of the next batch may be too short a period for both the removal of a filled case and its replacement by an empty one. High speed of operation, however, is usually the essential feature of a case packer.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a case packer by which the above-mew tioned disadvantage can be overcome. It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel method of loading several batches of articles, advancing intermittently in a train, into a packing case.

According to the invention a machine for loading several batches of articles into a packing case from a train of batches advancing intermittently by feed increments each equal to the length of one batch, comprises a stationary support over which said train advances towards a delivery end of said support, an auxiliary support member which is reciprocable in telescopic fashion in relation to the delivery end of the stationary support so as either to provide an extension thereof or to be retracted in relation thereto, and means movably supporting a-packing case for reciprocation with the auxiliary support member to receive at least two batches of articles for each retraction movement of the auxiliary support, the retraction movements of the auxiliary support being effected in timed relationship with the intermittent feed increments of the train, so as to occur simultaneously with or immediately after predetermined regularly recurring feed increments which are separated by at least one intervening feed increment.

The amplitude of reciprocation of the auxiliary support and the timing of its retraction movements depend upon the number of batches which it is desired to load into a packing case for each retraction of the auxiliary support. When the auxiliary support is retracted over a distance equal to one batch length for each alternate feed increment of the train, then two batches of articles enter the case for each retraction of the support. If, however, the support is retracted over a distance equal to two batch lengths for each third feed increment of the train, then three batches of articles enter the case for each retraction of the support. Similarly, four batches can be loaded by retracting the auxiliary support three batch lengths for each fourth feed increment of the train, and so on within the bounds of practicability, the auxiliary support being of length to suit its intended use.

The auxiliary support can be moved from its retracted position to its extended position before or during the next feed increment of the train which follows a retraction movement of the auxiliary support.

The invention further provides a machine in which the filling opening of a case is brought in register with the discharge opening of a sleeve-like member having a cross section which is slightly larger than the cross section of the batches of articles, and constituting an auxiliary support which is an extension of the stationary support, the case and the sleeve like member being moved in unison, over a distance equal to the length of one batch, in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the train of articles during or immediately after this movement.

The above machine may be modified in such a way that the case and the sleeve-like member are returned to 4 their starting position and the cycle is repeated until the leading batch of articles contacts the base of a case for receiving multiples of two batches, or alternatively the sleeve-like member could remain retracted until the leading batch of articles contacts the base of a case for receiving three or more batches.

A case packer for carrying out the above-mentioned method comprises, according to the present invention, means for forming a train of batches of articles and for intermittently moving forward said train over a stationary support through distances each equal to the length of one batch, an auxiliary support member having a length approximately equal to one such distance and movable in the direction of movement of the train of batches from a position in which it constitutes an extension of the support to a retracted position relative to said support, and actuating means for moving the auxiliary support member from the former position to the latter position simultaneously with or immediately after each alternate forward movement of the train of articles, and for moving the auxiliary support member from the latter position to the former position before or during each of the other alternate forward movements of the train of articles.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, whereby reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation, mainly in cross-section, of the delivery end of a case packer provided with the apparatus according to the invention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 diagrammatically show three different steps in the loading of a case.

In FIG. 1 a case packer is shown indicated by numeral 1 in which, by way of example, packaged articles 3 as they emerge at the delivery end of a packaging machine are transferred into batches of five superimposed articles each, these batches being moved in train in horizontal direction over a distance equal to the length of a batch by each subsequently presented batch of articles. In FIG. 1 this sleeve-like member 2 is shown as an auxiliary support constituting an extension of a stationary horizontal support 5, the member 2 being reciprocatcd by a cylinder, piston and a lever system 2a. A packing case t with open flaps is pressed against the outside of the member 2. In the example given herein the case 4 is adapted to be loaded with two batches of articles, i.e., with ten of the packages 3 shown.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the sequence of steps is shown whereby the case 4 is loaded. FIG. 2 shows the situation wherein the loading of a case has just been finished, the member 2 being in its extended position relative to the support 5 and the filled case having just been moved away. Between this position and the next movement of the train of batches as shown in FIG. 3, an empty case 4 is presented to the outer (right-hand) side of the member 2, corresponding to the situation in FIG. 1. Simultaneously with the next feed increment of forward movement of the train, synchronizing means actuate the cylinder, piston and lever system 2a to move the member 2 to the left, so that it will be retracted around the support 5. The case 4, which is kept pressed against the m mber either mechanically or by hand, is then moved to the left together with the member 2. The situation as shown in FIG. 4 is now reached, wherein the case is entirely loaded with two batches of articles. Directly following this inward'movement of the member 2 the actuating means 2a moves the member 2 outward again and consequently also the loaded case. This loaded case is then removed, which restores the situation as shown in FIG. 2, after which the same cycle is repeated. Thus an empty case need only be presented for loading at each alternate increment of movement of the train.

Obviously if the member 2 were to be twice the length shown in the drawings and its amplitude of reciprocation was equal to the length of two batches, then movement of the member 2 to the left could be effected at each third feed increment of forward movement of the train to load three batches into a case. Similarly, four, live, or even more batches could be loaded for a corresponding predetermined regularly-recurring retraction movement of the member 2.

An operator or a machine which is handling the packing cases is thus afforded a reasonable interval of time for removal of a loaded case and its replacement by an empty one.

I claim:

1. The method of loading several batches of articles into a packing case, which comprises the steps of forming batches of articles into a train with adjacent batches in contact with each other, feeding said train forward intermittently over a stationary support surface, towards a delivery end thereof, by feed increments each equal to the length of one batch, temporarily supporting at least the first batch in said train by positioning a movable auxiliary support surface to form an extension of the stationary support surface beyond the delivery end thereof during at least one forward feed increment of said train, presenting the open mouth of a packing case to the leading end of said train with the case aligned with the direction of movement of the train, retracting the movable auxiliary support surface relative to the stationary support surface through a distance equal to the length of at least one batch, in direction opposite to the direction of movement of the train, during a subsequent forward feed increment of the train, moving the packing case jointly with the auxiliary support surface in said opposite direction, subsequently returning the auxiliary support surface to form an extension of the stationary support surface beyond the delivery end thereof, moving the packing case jointly with the auxiliary support surface, and then removing the packing case.

2. The method of loading several batches of articles into a packing case, which comprises the steps of forming batches of articles into a train with adjacent batches in contact with each other, feeding said train forward intermittently over a stationary support surface, towards a delivery end thereof, by feed increments each equal to the length of one batch, temporarily supporting at least the first batch in said train by positioning a movable auxiliary support surface to form an extension of the stationary support surface beyond the delivery end thereof during at least one forward feed increment of said train, presenting the open mouth of a packing case to the leading end of said train with the case aligned with the direction of movement of the train, retracting the movable auxiliary support surface relative to the stationary support surface through a distance equal to the length of at least one batch, in direction opposite to the direction of movement of the train, immediately after a subsequent forward feed increment of the train, moving the packing case jointly with the auxiliary support surface in said opposite direction, subsequently returning the auxiliary support surface to form an extension of the stationary support surface beyond the delivery end thereof, moving the packing case jointly with the auxiliary support surface, and then removing the packing case.

3. The method of loading two batches of articles into a packing case, which comprises the steps of forming batches of articles into a train with adjacent batches in contact with each other, feeding said train forward intermittently over a stationary support surface, towards a delivery end thereof, by feed increments each equal to the length of one batch, temporarily supporting the first batch in said train by positioning a movable auxiliary support surface to form an extension of the stationary support surface beyond the delivery end thereof during a forward feed increment of said train, presenting the open mouth of a packing case to the leading end of said train with the case aligned with the direction of movement of the train, retracting the movable auxiliary support surface to form an extension of the stationary support surface through a distance equal to the length of one batch, in direction opposite to the direction of movement of the train, not later than immediately after the next forward feed increment of the train, moving the packing case jointly with the auxiliary support surface in said opposite direction, returning the auxiliary support to form an extension of the stationary support surface not later than during the next forward feed increment of the train, moving the packing case jointly with the auxiliary support surface, and then removing the packing case.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,228,171 1/1966 Cory 53260X WILLIAM VJ. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

